Nine months out of the year, doing what you enjoy takes too much effort. This is not to say that academics and outside work are not enjoyable. But when was the last time you were able to read a book for fun?
This may have been somewhere around the last week of July, scrambling to find out if Augustus dies or if he is able to survive his terminal illness. Reading those final chapters had to be perfectly timed.
Finish the book with at least two days before syllabi are posted on Blackboard. This gives an extra day to reread your favorite parts, and another to recuperate from any serious mental and emotional effects of the book. Trust me, I've had many a recuperative day.
And now? Now, in the height of the semester, the thought of scheduling in time for literary fun is exhausting.There is reading for all sorts of classes that needs to be done. We can't dwell on the likes of Rowling, Dessen, or Gaiman when we need to complete our homework.
It's difficult, and it will be a constant struggle throughout life. There is a bright spot, though, when we turn in that last final. We crawl into bed, make a nest out of pillows, and turn the cover of the book we've been waiting all semester to read.
Just a few more weeks to go.
What books are you looking forward to reading? Let me know at arabusa@asu.edu or on Twitter @marie_eo!
